Use Numbers
Which option sounds better? Option 1: “Served tables in a busy restaurant” or Option 2: “Served 15 tables at the same time in a busy restaurant.” You’re likely to choose the second option, which is more descriptive thanks to the use of numbers. It’s amazing how meaningful numbers can be – and this is true even for jobs associated with the English language specialty. If your job is as a salaried writer, you could mention in your resume the number of articles you write each month or the number of page visits you receive online, for example.
Prioritize Easy Reading
You may have thought about formatting, from choosing a font to margin size, at some point while creating your resume. But take a second look at the job descriptions you’ve included, considering how easy each description is to absorb. Look at readability from the perspective of copy and design.
If the description is a bit difficult to grasp, consider shortening some of the text or using fewer buzzwords. (Some buzzwords are good, but using all the buzzwords and acronyms can make the resume hard to read). And make sure there is enough white space – you can add it with bullet points or paragraph breaks.
Of course, having spelling or grammatical errors in the job description harms readability.
Talk About Achievements, Not Duties
It’s tempting when describing a job in your resume to create a bulleted list of duties and simply write down what you did daily (or weekly) when you were on the job. But likely, this is information hiring managers already know by looking at the job title. Instead of a list of duties, share achievements and successes.
Instead of writing “Designed the window display monthly,” you might write “Increased customer entry rate by 10% through themed window displays, updated monthly.”
If you led a meeting, talk about what happened during that meeting, how you led it, or what was accomplished as a result of your leadership. Or if you prepared a monthly report, discuss why the report was important – did it help keep the budget on track, prioritize sales efforts, or attract customers? See more tips on sharing achievements in your resume.
Choose Strong Words
Warning: Don’t overdo it with word choices. There’s no need to use a thesaurus to look for obscure and unusual words! But you should know that some words are more interesting than others – here are some strong words recommended for use in your resume.
Review your job description for words that are reused throughout the document. Try to diversify them more. Instead of “Managing,” for example, try “Supervising” or “Coordinating.”
There are some words that frequently appear in resumes. Think about “teamwork” or “attention to detail.” These words and phrases can sound boring to hiring managers. Consider how you can show that you possess these skills rather than stating you have them. For instance, instead of saying “Attention to detail,” perhaps you can have a bullet point about “Delivering clean code and assisting others in tracking down small code errors.”
Note: You should be careful when making your job sound impressive and meaningful, as there’s also a risk of cliché. If you inflate well-known positions with exaggerated language, it could backfire and make you look ridiculous.
The hiring manager will know what it means if your job title is “Assistant” or “Manager,” and inflating the responsibilities of the position with exaggerated language will not help you get an interview.
And don’t
You should not be deceptive or dishonest. Lying on your resume can cost you a job opportunity and be a reason for termination if the lie is discovered after you are hired – here is more about the importance of keeping your resume honest.
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/making-a-job-sound-impressive-on-your-resume-4163583
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